Folding sweater stretcher



Aug 16, 1932 H. o. czooKv 1,871,587

FOLDING SWEATER STRETCHER Filed NOV. 1,*1930 4 SheetSF-She l4 Aug. 16 1932.

H. o. cooK FOLDING SWEATER STRETCl-'IER Filed Nov." l. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 .220..6-0 ogmwof. n

Aug. 1e, 1932.

H. O. COOK FoLDING SWEATER STRETCHERQ l Filed Nov. 1, -lsaso 4 sneeuw-Sheet 4 sa zo ,IZI'yCz/ ad n ATTORNEY i Patented ug. 16, 1932 UNITI-:o STATES 4PATlazlfi-T oFFl-c 4mracnurn o. coox, or PHILADELPHIA, rmsnvama nonnina swmrm srns'rcnn'a application ma November 1, raso. serial No. asamj My present invention has reference to a garment stretcher, and more particularly to a device for stretching sweaters and like woolen garments to prevent the shrinkage thereof after the rment has been washed or ,otherwise clean with a iluid.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a stretcher for use in drying and preventing the shrinkage of sweaters or like 10 woolen garments which shall be both of an adjustable and collapsible construction whereby the stretcher may be employed upon various sizes of garments and a so whereby the stretcher, when not in use, can be folded into a small package. V

A further object is the provision of a de- -vice for this purpose that is characterized by simplicity in construction, cheapness in manufacture and thorough eiciency in prac- `tical use. y

The invention will befully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in' connectlon with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved stretcher for use in drying and preventing the shrinkage of garments.

Figure 2 is a rearelevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view showing certain of the elements constituting the improvement separated and the remaining elements partly folded. i

Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6. is a front elevation of a slight 5 modification.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation thereof. v

frame The top member l has its edges, at

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom plate of the improvemen Figure 9 is a sectional view approximately on the line 9-'-9 of Figure 8. f v

. Figure 10 is a sectional view approximate- 55 ly on-the line 10-10 of Fi re 8.

Figures 11, 12, and .13 il ustrate different sizedspacer blockswhich may be e'm loyed. Figure 14 is an elevation of a urther slight modification.

Figure 15 is a similar view of a still fur'- ther modification. i

Figure 16 is a'view to illustrate an ordinary nut which may be employed.' f

The improvement may be constructed of 55 either wood or metal an'd in each instance the elements comprising the improvement are comparatively thin strips or plates. In all of the forms of the improvement the stretch' er includes a top strip or plate 1, side strips *7 or plates 2, a bottom'strip -or plate 3, which is of a greater width than the strips 1 and 2 and forked strips or plates 4 that comprise the substantially Vshaped arms of the points eqhuidistant from its center, inclined in opposite directions to provide rests for the shouldered portions of the sweater 5. The arms 4 have their outer ends connected, the said connecting portion being of a greater 8 lwidth than that of the spaced angularly disposed elements that constitute the forked arms and this end of the fork is for distinction indicated by the numeral 6. The sleeves of that' garment`are arranged over the angle arms 4 and the wrist bands thereof arranged over the reduced outer ends 6 of y the arms 4. Arranged on the opposite faces contacted by the/outer' edges of t e sidewvl members2of the stretcher frame, an` as dis-V ner. T e clampin plates are 'p provided, at

. receive thereinV the heads of bolts 12 that'pass through the bottom strip 3 and through the cooperating clamping plate, the outer ends Aof the said bolts being engaged b either wing nuts or ordinary nuts as disc osed by Figure 16 of the drawings. The notches of the respective plates are 'arranged out of alinement with each other so that the bolts i 12 are arranged in the op site sides of the frame. In addition to t e bolts 12 outer bolts 13 are. assed through the member 3 and through t e clamping plates adjacent to the outer ends thereof. These bolts are, of course, engaged by either wing or ordinary nuts.

In order to provide for the collapsing of the frame one end 9 of the sidemembers 2 is connected to the bottom strip or plate v3 by adjustable means in the nature of bolts 14 which are engaged by suitable wing or like nuts 15. The bolts are inserted in the opposite sides of the frame. The op osite end 9'is connected to the bottom strip y a rivet 4 The side members 2 are each preferably constructed of two members held together by ivot bolts 16 which, of course, are engaged y'nuts. In a like manner the bifurcated or forked elements of the arms 4 are connected to the sides 2 by bolts and nuts. The inner corners of the side members 2 are notched to receive the said bolts therethrough. Also the outer corners of the top 1 are notched so that bolts, engaged 1 by nuts, may pass through the upper and longer elements of the forked or bifurcated arms 4 and through the upper corners of the top strip or plate 1. Rivets 18 pass through the lower -end portions of the top members and through the -sides 2, while a hanger hook 19 is passed through the l top 1. By a construction as above described it will be apparent that the frame constituting the structure may be readily assembled to receive a garment thereover, to effectively clamp the garment on the stretcher frame, and to permit of the drying without allowing the shrinkage of the garment. It will also 'be apparent that the elements constituting the device may be supported from each other or swung upon each other, as disclosed by the striplrl in a particular and peculiar mansuitable points, wit spaced notches 11 that Figure 3 ofthe drawings and therebprovide a small package for storagewhen e structure is not required for use.

In Figures 6 and 7 the construction slightly differs. In these views'the upper strip or member of the frame comprises two lapping sections, one or both being provided with a series of apertures 20 through certain of whichA pass ad'ustable securing means in the nature of bo ts which are engaged by nuts 21. The series of apertures 20 are referably disposed adjacent to the top and t e bottom ofy the upper strip of the frame, and the upper strip carries a plurality of hooks 22, one of which will be arranged in a line with the center of the frame when the said frame is adjusted. The upper elements of the bifurcated or forked arms of the improvements are connected to the corners and to the sides of the framein a manner as previously described. The forked elements constituting the arms, in'this instance, however, comprise lapping sections provided with a series of apertures through ,one pair of which there are passed bolts 23 which are engaged by suitable nuts' and whereby the arms are adjusted with res ct to the body of the frame. The outer en s of the arms carry clamps as heretofore described. The side members of the frame also comprise lapping sections provided with series of apertures 24 designedto aline and through at least one pair of each series of apertures there are passed bolts 25 engaged by suitable nuts.

The lower members comprising the arms are pivotallv secured, as at 23', to the outer widened ends of the upper arms, and the `in ner sections of the lower arms have their removable pivots passing through one of a series of apertures -26 in the side members-of the frame, and whereby the arms, at the ends asy roo

thereof may be spread away from each other v and adjustably secured to the side members of the frame. This provides for the stretch-y ing of sweaters 'having different size sleeves and different widths of sleeves at the juncture,

with the body ofthe said sweater.

The bottom' strip comprises two members which are arranged in lapping relation but these lapping portions are reduced from their opposite faces, 1s at 26, to approximately one-half of the thickness of the said bottom strip.4 One of the lapping portions 26 is provided with a series oi apertures 27 through one of which there is passed a bolt 28i that passes through a single opening in the second apping portion of the bottom strip. The bolt is, of course, engaged by a nut 29. When the sections comprising the bottom strip are moved a distance outwardly with respect to each other there is arranged within the space or 'gap thus provided one of a plurality of different width spacer strips 30, such as is dis closed by Figures 11 and 13 of the drawmgs and likewise disclosed by Figures 8 and 9 of the drew' These stripsheve their lower `neo sections ends provi ed with apertures 3l end through the opsite sides of the lower strip and other these apertures end through one oi o series clexnpg pistes cerried ot the outer ends of .of openm s in the bottom plete or strip there the lhsheped e.

5 are passe bolts 32 that also pees through the apertures 31 in the spacer strips 30. Through certain of theremeining opertnres in the hot-s tom plate or strip there ere p bolts that are also passedthrough one oit `e, series m of apertures in the clamping pistes 3d.

The heads of the bolts 32 nre received in i notches 35 in the clamping ple 3d, es f closed by the drawings.

In Figure 14 the constrnction'is substen 15 tially similar to that described in connection 'with Figures l to 5 of the drawings, escet that the side strips l oi the freine ere streit throughout their length, while inhigure l5 the frame provided with straight side strips 2g l" is connected to en edjusteble bottom plete or strip similar to that disclosed in connes tion with Figures 6, i, 89 end l@ oi the drew see ings, the adjustable strip having f thereto clamps similsr to the demping pistes I 25 34 described in connection with the foregoing4 gures.

By constructing the treme oi edinstnhle es well as removable end coepsibie memhein it will be appere'nt that swesters oir vnrions so sizes may be successfully stretched, dri end prevented from shrinhsge, L it being onder stood thet the sweaters or like sente ere arranged upon' the iremos when in wet condition. The construction, it will noted, is

- comparatively simple, may he rendily set np and adjusted to have e. sweeter srreed thereon. A structure in sccoenoe with this invention is highly desirable es from experi ence have found thet woolen sweeters shrink several sizes smaller otter being washed in water, gosoline or other @nids with the result that the some, .wh cleaned., een not he again employed end es s result the sweeters are discarded which results in loss oi money. With my improvement the owner moy 'possess himseli oi severed sweaters, so that he may weer one while onother is being dried and stretched without permitting oi the shrinkage thereof on 'the improvement, sind it is believed the construction end odvtes of my device will be understood end eppreciated by those skilled in the ert to which such invention relates so that further eteiled do sdription will not he required,

.frame at `the endof the top end side strips,"

all of said strips heinfg ivotslly connected together end certain o t e pivots beinremov C3 able, seid strips constituting edjnstely con- Having described the invention., i ele:-

n testimony whereof a my istnre..

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